Clinton: MKO Cooperation 'Key' In Considering Terrorist Designation

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that cooperation by the exiled Iranian opposition Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) during the closure of its Iraqi base at Camp Ashraf will be "a key factor in any decision" on whether to change the organization's terrorist designation.

The MKO (aka People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran) was added to the U.S. State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations in 1999 and is also designated a terrorist organization by Iran.

Iraq is in the process of closing Camp Ashraf, which holds some 3,300 members of group.

The group fought alongside Iraqi forces in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, but has since clashed with Iraqi security forces as Baghdad's relations with Tehran have improved.

Maryam Rajavi, leader of PMOI

The group says the Iraqi government has used its terrorist status to justify mistreatment of the camp's residents and could complicate planned relocation to other countries.